J*B

But if a rant coming, which is a shame. We should be really enjoying this season, because we are overachieving. I’d argue we are overachieving because the quality of the league outside of Fulham is really poor. But I’ve not been able to enjoy this because it feels so very predictable and like we continue to make the same mistakes. Now I’m not saying I know more than Tony Mowbray about football - he’s forgotten more than I know. But there are some huge issues which I just can’t get my head around: 1) The February slump. Why? Every year, why? I just can’t get it. It can’t be purely coincidence. 2) Rothwell. If, as we have been told, Mowbray and Rothwell had agreed he was going to Bournemouth only for Venkys to stop it, then Mowbray should have walked. He’s not been half of the player since the end of January and I believe it’s had a knock on effect with morale. Regardless he should NEVER have been allowed to fall into his final 6 months 3) Giles. He’s good. Good signing. But he’s a left wing back and we are committed to developing Pickering, our own left wing back. So why is he here? We clearly needed genuine attacking input, he’s playing right striker today. 4) Hedges. Totally bemused by this. We’ve been chasing him for what feels like forever. We sign him, pay money to get him here quick and then don’t play him? 5) Zeefuik. Doesn’t look great. A rumoured option to buy at 3M? I wouldn’t pay 300K so far. How much is he costing? Would Nyambe have signed 6 months ago if we had offered him whatever Deyo is costing us? 6) Tony always speaks about recruitment. Gallagher has been a complete disaster. He signed Markanday who has potential but nothing else so far. We where DESPERATE for attacking solutions in January because BBD was always going to break down at some point. Some observations on the game: JRC is either really poor or not a RWB. He had a great reputation so I hope injuries haven’t taken their toll. Pickering is getting exposed. If JVH struggles with Mitrovic - who let’s be honest is a superb Championship striker but distinctly average in the Premier League, then he won’t be playing for Brighton next year. Dolan is trying and is worth a place in the squad but pedigree wise let’s not forget he was released by PNE and on loan at Clitheroe 2 years ago. Kaminski should have done better but it shouldn’t have come from that. Lenihan one of the few to come out of this with any credit. Out of contract in the summer.

He’s a left wing back playing right wing…

They’re on the back foot and panicking because the ball wasn’t put out. Yes Kaminski save was weak but he shouldn’t have been in that position. Just seen we could well go down to 6th today…

JVH error. Should have put that out for a throw.

Yes he’s quick, might be the smallest front 3 in English football this weekend though.

Fulham fans saying they’re starting their strongest team on Twitter. I’d say we are missing three from ours - Dack, Rothwell, Brereton.

Kaminski Zeefuik Lenihan JVH Wharton Pickering Travis Johnson Khadra Dolan Giles wasn’t expecting that…

With a full strength squad? If we can field: Kaminski Nyambe Lenihan JVH Wharton Pickering Travis Rothwell Brereton Dack Khadra I’m confident we beat anyone but Bournemouth and Fulham. Obviously you want to avoid Huddersfield and Forest in the semi final, but in the final I’d take either of them as well.

Bad news, second has gone. Good news, in a playoff final I would back up to beat QPR and Sheff Utd no problems. Forest and Huddersfield the only decent competition I’ve seen.

Nyambe ACL?

You’re kidding me? He’s so important. Holds the entire team together and the only one ahead of the defence with any aggression about his game.

Poor from Pickering, he was keeping him onside by a good 5 yards. Just step up.

Don’t take him off, just tell him very clearly to take aim, close his eyes and hit it as hard as he can next time. He will score when he isn’t thinking about.

QPR are terrible. We’re missing our three best players and we’re better than them all over the pitch.

If (when) Boro win their game in hand we’re out the play offs for the season.

After that, I’m not in a great mood tonight. So when my phone starts buzzing as emails come through of posts being reported on here, the responses to them will be linked to my current feelings.

I’m with you

Unbearable. So predictable. Not good enough.

Put Hedges on. Put Giles on. How Gallagher is still on this pitch is beyond me.

If we’re not going to play Hedges why did we bother signing him!

This is so entirely predictably frustrating I can’t watch.

Commentator had it right - if you’re going to shoot from there you must hit the target.

All stemmed for the Pickering throw in. I would blame him, but he had absolutely no options.

I’m really struggling to enjoy Rovers at the moment, which is crazy really. Third in the league and all that. But this slump is so entirely predictable and this performance so far really isn’t helping. God I hope we can turn it around but I really fear we end up finishing 7th here after a Feb - Mid March baron spell.

The PNE pitch wasn’t playable but because the game had started they had to finish it. Today they didn’t take the same risk. Unfortunately they got it wrong both times.